Project in limbo for want of environmental clearances

Oct 17, 2013, 01:17 IST
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Richa Pinto

Construction could miss the May 2015 deadline as development body doesn't have the necessary permissions from environment ministry

Though the construction work of the High Income Group (HIG) and Middle Income Group (MIG) housing units has reached the advanced stage, a part of the mass housing project at sector 36 in Kharghar, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is yet to receive environmental clearances for the homes it is building for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and the Lower Income Group (LIG). The CIDCO had issued work orders for constructing EWS and LIG homes were issued way back in March.

Future uncertain: While the construction work on the MIG and HIG housing units is in full swing, lack of environmental clearances has hampered the progress of work on EWS and LIG homes. File pic

May skip deadline Of the total 3,590 housing units, 2,622 would be reserved for LIG and 968 for the EWS. All the units would be of 1BHK. While the EWS flats would have a carpet area of 304 square feet, the size of LIG homes would 370 square feet.

The housing project for the EWS and LIG is spread across 7.97 hectares. Though the deadline set by the CIDCO board of directors for completion of this project is May 2015, the project could get delayed as the environmental clearances are still to be got.

Mission impossible “If the environmental clearance takes a few more months to come in, we will lose out on time during the working season — between monsoons — which could delay the project. While the work of laying plinth may be completed, we won’t be able to go further until we have the clearances. Chances are that it might take up to three months to secure environmental clearances,” a senior CIDCO official said.